Filament breakage detection and correction

Abstract

The present invention relates to: process and apparatus for feeding continuous filaments to a continuous multifilament structure utilizing tangentially converging fluid streams to forward the filaments; process and apparatus for detecting breakage of filaments utilizing a rotatable cylinder, or a gap in a three dimensional body, wherein breakage of the filament causes a measurable change in the pressure of fluid flowing to the cylinder or the gap; process and apparatus for the production of continuous multifilament structures wherein, upon breakage of a continuous filament, the breakage detector automatically activates a filament feeder to temporarily insert a substitute filament.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for detecting breakage of a continuous filament, said apparatus comprising: a rotatable cylinder, said cylinder mounted within a housing in such a manner so as to be rotatable therein by means of frictional contact with a running continuous filament; a fluid orifice; a retaining means comprising means for restraining said cylinder in a position causing blocking of said fluid orifice when said cylinder is out of frictional contact with said running filament; a source of supply of fluid and a pressure change detector, said fluid supply and said detector in communication with said orifice; said detector comprising means for detecting changes in pressure caused by the blocking of said orifice when said filament breaks and is out of frictional contact with said cylinder. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retaining means is selected from the group consisting of a counterweight and a magnet. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retaining means blocks said fluid orifice when said retaining means is in its inertial position. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cylinder rotates through an angle of less than 180°. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the cylinder rotates through an angle of from about 5° to less than 180°. 
     
     
       6. A process for detecting the breakage of a continuous filament, said process comprising: passing a fluid from a source thereof to an orifice; passing a running continuous filament over a rotatable cylinder in frictional contact with said cylinder to rotate said cylinder; simultaneously unblocking the fluid oriifice to allow the passage of fluid therefrom; upon breakage of said continuous filament, returning said cylinder to its original position to block the passage of fluid from said orifice; and sensing the breakage of said continuous filament by detecting the increase in pressure caused by the blockage of said fluid orifice. 
     
     
       7. The process of claim 6 wherein said cylinder is rotated through an angle of less than 180°. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 7 wherein said cylinder is rotated through an angle of from about 5° to less than 180°. 
     
     
       9. The process of claim 6 wherein the increase in pressure caused by the blockage of said orifice activates an inserter to temporarily insert a substitute filament.